How to Stay at the Top of Your Game at Work?
Once in a while we all have that nagging feeling that we could be doing better, bigger things at work if only we know how to do things the correct way. Sometimes all we need is a little motivation. But sometimes, it is also good to step back and find out the better ways of doing things.
Harvard Business Review has the best advice on how to ace it at work. We have a snippet for you on how to deal with the most challenging things at work.
Read on and make the right career choice to keep yourself professionally relevant.
1. I recently became a manager. I want to be a good manager but team does not work in the way I want them to. What should I do?
For newly appointed first-time managers, often the first order of business is to demonstrate potential and credibility by securing quick wins early. But what’s more important, in the long run, is to gain influence by building relationships based on trust and mutual benefit. Most influential managers focus first on building strong, positive relationships and then focus on achieving results. Focusing on building trust will help change people’s attitudes and beliefs, not just their behaviors. They will be more open to accepting and following you, supporting your ideas, and receiving and giving feedback.
Here are four ways new managers can start building influence by focusing on relationships.
- Start with trust. Your team needs to see that you are looking out for them. Only then will they look out for you.
- Let others know that their opinion matters, too. Nothing sends a stronger signal than a manager who is willing to listen to others opinion and perspective.
- To win people you need to win both hearts and minds. When sending a message to your team think about whether it is logical, emotional and collaborative.
- Communicate your intent to the team and cultivate open conversations.

2. My ideas at work are often turned down or sometimes not even heard. What should I do to change this?
Workplaces are like marketplaces. They’re filled with people pitching ideas and competing to get the go-ahead from their bosses, the “buyers.” Even CEOs have to sell ideas to their boards. If you want to get the green light for a project, you can’t just put together a presentation and rely on your ability to make a rational argument. You need to think like a marketer.
About 95% of consumer purchasing decisions happen subconsciously.
And, just like consumers, business leaders have positive subconscious associations and memories that can be leveraged when making a pitch. Begin pitching your idea early so that you can utilize the time to create positive associations around it. Speak to as many people as possible who are in a position to influence the decision. They are the ones who will create a positive buzz around it. You need to build your own brand and maximize your chance of getting the green light for your ideas. And that means appealing to the subconscious of the decision maker.
3. What is informal power and why is it important in modern workplaces?
Informal power is power that is unrelated to your formal title. In the modern workplace, informal power is increasingly gaining more and more importance and it decide whether you are secure within your organization or not.
Why? Nowadays, companies are moving away from specialized verticals. In order to respond more precisely to customer needs, organizations are increasingly project driven with cross-functional teams. More and more, work is done outside the organization in collaboration with suppliers, distributors, and customers. Companies are crowdsourcing ideas and work. We engage with freelancers and third parties. Sometimes we even collaborate with competitors.
The fact is, your formal title, direct reports, and formally granted authority do not always carry you far when working across your own organization and with outside stakeholders. Your value should not be defined solely by your ability to perform a formal organizational role. If it is, you are likely in trouble — sooner or later, a cheaper, younger, and smarter competitor will join the company.
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